The Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Function of Spain, Óscar López, has expressed the need for the European Union to prioritize the development of its own satellite network in the upcoming spectrum band auction, during an informal meeting of telecommunications ministers. López emphasized the importance of having a dedicated constellation of satellites as an essential matter to ensure the “digital sovereignty” of the continent.
In collaboration with France, the minister urged the European Commission to launch new licenses for the 2GHz spectrum band, which is crucial for Satellite Mobile Services, as the current ones expire in May 2027. “Europe needs to strengthen its digital sovereignty and, above all, connectivity through satellites,” said López, who also called for greater transparency and participation from member states in this auction process.
Additionally, López addressed the need to define a European model of Artificial Intelligence that is “trustworthy,” advocating for the simplification of regulation without falling into deregulation. He also mentioned the importance of protecting minors on the internet, which leads Spain to promote a national law that limits their access to social networks, although he considers it ideal to have a European framework on this matter.